Hello, I'm really sorry that I took so long off before writing this. I've been caught up with lots of other things in life these days (since I've just graduated and returned to my home country in December, and am no longer studying overseas, thus well, there are just lots of other responsibilities… family, friends, finding job, unpacking my stuffs etc.) Furthermore, to make matter worst… I'm highly prone to laziness and procrastination…
Touya's angel, Crimson mist, Tatortot and Kyou: Thank you very much for all your encouraging and motivating reviews. I really do appreciate and need them to force me out of my procrastination to write this next part. I hope that you all will enjoy reading this part.
STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLIED: I do not own any of the X/TB's characters mentioned in this fic. They all belong to Clamp.
Warnings: There are spoilers for X.9 in this part.
Words in italics Represents character's thoughts
"...." Represents conversations
COMRADESHIP, FRIENDSHIP OR MORE?
Part 2(TB's Subaru's POV)
As I felt my spirit left its husk of a body and descended into the unknown of Kamui's mind, I continued to chant the special spell of my clan…
However, when my consciousness was nearing the innermost core of Kamui's mind, my concentration was utterly shattered out by the sudden attack of a large and ferocious dragon… the guardian of Kamui's soul.
My entrance is being rejected!
I tried my best to fend off the incoming attacks of the dragon without casting forth any damage of my own, for I didn't dare risk it… I didn't dared risk injuring Kamui…
Kamui has been hurt enough, I don't want to cause him anymore harm. But… but what can I do? The inner state of a human is highly fragile… what should I do? If I forced my way in, I may unwittingly cause damage to Kamui's soul…
Just as I was feeling immensely worried and extremely lost about what the next best and most appropriate step of action should be, the protector dragon had unexpectedly vanished into swirls of water. And when the scene had cleared, I saw in front of me… Kamui…
He was wrapped within the tight embrace of the Dark Kamui, and standing along side them was a sweet-looking girl around my age… she was the girl… the innocent girl whom was callously sacrificed by the dark Kamui, her brother, during the awakening of Kamui and the Dark Kamui…
What… what is this about?
At that very moment, the Dark Kamui reached forth to cup Kamui's slender hand in his larger ones, brought it to his mouth and kissed it… a seemingly harmless and tender gesture, however, his eyes… the eyes of the Dark Kamui were pure ice…and Kamui too, like me, must have noticed this, for his beautiful orbs widen in shock and confusion, and in a soft and wavering voice, he questioned, "Fu…Fuuma?"
Fuuma? No, he is not Fuuma, but the Dark Kamui… the cold aura he gave out firmly indicated that.. Although physically he may still appear the same, he is no longer the close friend and almost-brother of Kamui...
The Dark Kamui caressed Kamui's face and replied in a tone as cold and alienating as his eyes, "You have chosen the destiny to be a Dragon of Heaven, one of the Seven Seals, Kamui." He paused for a brief moment to place a quick peck on the tips of Kamui's fingers and then added, "Since you have chosen the Dragon of Heaven's future, I'm therefore destined to become the Dragon of Earth!"
And just as abruptly as the disappearance of the dragon guard, a new scene appeared… a highly gruesome one...with two Kamui-look-alikes. The one that represented the Kamui of the Dragon of Heaven was trying in vain to protect the girl, who he addressed as Kotori. On the other hand, the other Kamui, the one who is the Dragon of Earth chosed to pierce his shinken right through her heart…
Even though, I knew that these images in front of me were nothing more than fabrications of Kamui's mind, I was still greatly stunned and sadden at this very sight presented right before my very eyes…
"Kamui!" I called out to Kamui, wishing with my whole heart that I could reach him and to help him. Nevertheless, once again, the scene changes into swirling water, and when the water became calm, I could see three young children playing together merrily, with big and wide smiles plastered on all their three faces… They are the children versions of Kamui, Fuuma and Kotori…
They look to be so innocent and full of joy … Why must Destiny and Fate be so cruel as to destroy this happiness… I want to help him, but how should I go about it? I'm even having such difficulty reaching him… If I tried to enter deeper into him, his mind may shatter by my intrusion… What should I do?"
Suddenly, a crack appeared across the face of the child-Fuuma, and as the child-Kamui reached forth in concern and puzzlement to touch the face of his friend, I shouted out, "Stop seeing, Kamui!"
Nevertheless, I was too late… a grown-up version of Fuuma had appeared and he had slashed the child-version of his own self into two halves, and right following that he had pierced his shinken into the doll-like body of the child-Kotori… killing her in one stroke…
"No… no…. I… I don't want…," the child-Kamui closed his eyes, cupped his ears, huddled close to the ground and in a shaking voice mumbled, "Kotori… Fuuma…"
Witnessing this piteous sight…. was most terrible… I could feel my heart breaking along side his…
Stay focus, Subaru…You've to. You are the only one that is currently in the best position to help him... Stay focus and calm yourself down now.
I closed my eyes and soothed my empathetic feeling of pain somewhat first, before I approached the child-Kamui. I kneeled in front of him, and gently called out his name, "Kamui?"
However, he continued to cry and ignored my presence, thus I was forced to catch his tiny wrists in my hands and yelled out his name, "Kamui!" And finally, I had successfully managed to startle him out from his grief-induced reverie.
He looked at me in total bewilderment and asked, "Who are you?"
"Even if I say my name you probably still wouldn't know me… But, well, I am Sumeragi Subaru," I replied with a a slightly sheepish smile.
"Huh?" The child-Kamui looked confused at me for a moment and then said, "Your clothes are… very… colourful… and different."
In amusement at his childish words, I smiled, and then answered, "Hokuto-chan, my neesan, enjoys dressing me up in clothing that she herself had designed, and let's just say that her taste is somewhat… unconventional… or well, just plain strange… just don't tell her that I said that, 'kay?"
"Okay. But, why are you here? I don't remember knowing you?"
"Err… well… how to say this…" I paused for a while in an attempt to collect my thoughts, so that I would be able to phase my words and explain this situation in a manner that a child-age Kamui could comprehend. I have never been very good at conversing with people… and that is one of the many reasons why I have always prefer and yearn for the companies of animals rather than humans.
If only Hokuto-chan is here, she is always so friendly, outgoing and good with words…
"You're currently stuck within your own mind, Kamui."
"My mind?"
"Yes, because something very bad and depressing happened, therefore you had chosen to reject reality, so as to escape from making decisions about the future. You're trying to escape from the real world."
"But... but, I don't want Kotori and Fuuma to be dead. Please, please don't let them be killed…" the child-Kamui, started crying again as he pled for my help…
I wish that I can save them too…but I can't. I do wish that things are different… but they are not. I'm sorry, Kamui…
"Kamui, listen to me! I'm not you, so it is not possible for me to completely understand your anguish, but what I do know is that Arisugawa-san, Arashi-chan, Yuzuriha-chan, I and all the others are all worried about you. It is true that although the past couldn't be changed, and no matter how hard we try, time once lost, can be never turn back. However, the future is something different. The future is pliable and it is still within your control, hence you do have a choice. Would you prefer to remain within your mind and endlessly blame yourself or would you choose to return to consciousness, so as to able to be there to create a future of your wish?"
On hearing my words, the little boy version of Kamui had vanished and when he had remerged, he was once again his real sixteen years old self…
He looked down sadly and voiced aloud his deepest regret and greatest wish, "I want to find back Fuuma! That person is not Fuuma! Although I can't protect Kotori, I want to be able to at least protect Fuuma. I want to find back the real Fuuma…"
I pulled him in a loose hug, before saying, "Kamui, your future is in your own hands, so to fulfil your wish, please do come back!"
With tears cascading down his face, he caught my eyes, and acknowledged my request, "Hn."
When I returned to consciousness and opened my eyes, the very first thing I did was to look at Kamui, gently touched the side of his face in much concern and greeted, "Ah, you're awaken… Good morning!"
He returned my glance and hold my eyes with his own, and in a quiet voice, he mumbled, "Sumeragi Subaru…" In reply, I graced him with a somewhat shy but warm and genuine smile.
However, very soon my weariness took over, and I could feel myself falling atop Kamui… falling straight into his open arms…
Just as I was losing myself to unconsciousness, I could feel the arms of Kamui closed around my body and I was pulled closer to him. And at the point right when darkness took over, a soft whispered of "thank you" flow through my ears…
-- End of Part 2 --
Thank you for reading. Please do review.